A new ceasefire was negotiated in Egypt's capital, Cairo. Meanwhile, Palestinians are leaving Rafah and returning to their destroyed homes.
Mediators from the USA, Egypt and Qatar have been trying for days to reach an agreement. The objective of the negotiations: a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas in its October 7 terrorist attack. In return, Palestinian prisoners were to be released from Israeli prisons. Intensive discussions were planned for Sunday in Cairo. Representatives from Israel and Hamas are also expected to travel to the Egyptian capital to participate in these indirect negotiations.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening. 1.4 million people are crowded in the city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt. They have fled here from other parts of the Gaza Strip in recent months. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would also send Israeli troops to Rafah. The Israeli military says this is the last withdrawal base for the Hamas leadership. Many of the civilians who fled have now decided to take their fate into their own hands. They returned from Rafah in the south to their original homes in the Gaza Strip. But there they are left with almost nothing.
The fear remains
One of them is Muhammad Abu Rabia. A month ago, he fled with his family from Deir El-Balah, in the center of the Gaza Strip, to Rafah and has now returned to Deir El-Balah.
After an Israeli airstrike on Rafah. Palestinians search the rubble of a building. Portal/Mohammed Salem